Dentistry – Definition and branches
The branch of medicine concerned with the teeth, oral cavity and the diagnosis and treatment of their diseases including prevention and the restoration of defective and missing tissue.
Dentistry is not a single subject dealt by every kind of dentist, and so it is divided into several branches which are specifically used for particular part and particular function in the oral cavity. Here are the branches of dentistry –
Oral medicine and radiology – Deals with the diagnosis and treatment planning of the actual defect in the oral cavity and any associated structures in the mouth.
Oral and maxo-facial surgery – Deals with treatment of oral cavity and also para oral structures with surgery
Community dentistry – Deals with the patient counseling and education that how to maintain oral hygiene
Periodontics – Deals with the treatment of the tissues surrounding the tooth
Pedodontics – Deals with treatment of children and also their counseling and to educate them maintain their oral hygiene
Conservative dentistry and endodontics – Deals with conservation of diseased tooth structure and treat it in such a manner that it should not extracted and also its masticatory function
Orthodontics – Deals with orientation of teeth in jaw in a normal order which improves phonitics and aesthetics of face
Prosthodontics – Deals with the replacement of lost hard and soft tissues of oral cavity
Implantology – Deals with the implants which should be placed in oral cavity for proper oral functions
Forensic dentistry – Deals with the study of cases regarding oral cavity which helps in determining the age, sex and also helps in investigation.
Dr. Karthik Dutta 